BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh’s senior outfielder Eric Cichocki and junior right-handed pitcher Mason Black claimed Patriot League Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively when the League announced weekly honors on Tuesday. Navy freshman infielder Logan Keller was named rookie of the week.
Cichocki batted .556 (5-for-9) with six runs and five stolen bases to help Lehigh sweep its season-opening two-game series against Coppin State and collect his first League player of the week honor. Black tossed 5.0 innings of scoreless, no-hit ball while striking out a career-high 11 in the Mountain Hawks 9-0 victory over the Eagles in game one on Saturday to earn his first League pitcher of the week accolade.
Keller exploded for a 4-for-6 day with four runs and four RBIs in Navy’s 16-11 win against Coppin State last Wednesday to claim rookie of the week honors for the first time.
Army West Point sophomore RHP Patrick Melampy was selected as a weekly honorable mention along with Navy junior outfielder Joe Simourian and Navy senior RHP Charlie Connolly for their performances in helping Navy extend its winning streak to 18 games, the longest streak in NCAA DI and the Mids’ longest since 1960-61.
PATRIOT LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Eric Cichocki, Lehigh, Sr., OF, Zionsville, Pa./Emmaus
*Cichocki batted .556 (5-for-9) with six runs and five stolen bases while slugging .667 and reaching base at a .667 clip in Lehigh’s two-game sweep over Coppin State.
*The senior outfielder went 4-for-6 with three runs and four stolen bases in the Mountain Hawks 9-0 win in the season opener.
*He went 1-for-3 with two walks, a stolen base and three runs scored in Lehigh’s 10-1 victory over the Eagles in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader.
PATRIOT LEAGUE BASEBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Mason Black, Lehigh, Jr., RHP, Archbald, Pa./Valley View
*Black picked up his first victory of the season in Navy’s 9-0 win over Coppin State in game one of a doubleheader on Saturday.
*He threw 5.0 of scoreless, no-hit baseball striking out a career-high 11 of the 16 batters he faced against the Eagles.
*The junior right-hander was perfect through 4.0 innings.
PATRIOT LEAGUE BASEBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Logan Keller, Navy, Fr., IF, Longwood, Fla./Lake Brantley
*Logan batted .286 (4-for-14) with four runs scored and four RBIs to help Navy go 3-0 with one win over Coppin State and two against George Mason.
*He went 4-for-6 with four RBIs, a double and a stolen base in the Mids’ 16-11 win over Coppin State on Wednesday.
HONORABLE MENTIONS (listed alphabetically by school)
Patrick Melampy, Army West Point, So., RHP, Marshfield, Mass./Duxbury
*Melampy earned his first collegiate victory with a 5-2 decision over Austin Peay on Saturday.
*The sophomore right-hander tossed 6.0 innings, allowing one run on two hits while striking out 11 and walking one.
Joe Simourian, Navy, Jr., OF, Andover, Mass./Phillips Academy
*Simourian batted .400 (.4-for-10) for the week with three runs and three RBIs while slugging .600 and posting a .571 on-base percentage.
*He went 2-for-4 with his third triple of the season in a 16-11 win over the Eagles on Wednesday.
Charlie Connolly, Navy, Sr., RHP, Wayne, Pa./Radnor
*Connolly picked up a victory in Navy’s 7-3 win over George Mason on Saturday. He tossed 5.0 innings of shutout ball, allowing three hits while striking out seven and walking two.
*The senior right-hander is 2-0 on the season with a 2.25 ERA in 8.0 innings pitched.
Player of the Week
2.23 – Joe Simourian, Navy, Jr., OF
3.2 – Eric Cichocki, Lehigh, Sr., OF
Pitcher of the Week
2.23 – Ray Bartoli, Army West Point, Sr., RHP
3.2 – Mason Black, Lehigh, Jr., RHP
Rookie of the Week
2.23 – Eduardo Diaz, Navy, Fr., 2B
3.2 – Logan Keller, Navy, Fr., IF
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.